Feedback compensation detector for a direct conversion transmitter

ABSTRACT

A feedback compensation detector for a direct conversion transmitter includes a baseband processor, a direct up-converter, an antenna, and an impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit. The baseband processor generates an in-phase (I) baseband signal and a quadrature-phase (Q) baseband signal. The direct up-converter is coupled to the baseband processor, and combines the I and Q baseband signals with an RF carrier signal to generate an RF output signal. The antenna is coupled to the direct up-converter, and transmits the RF output signal. The impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit is coupled to the RF output signal and the I and Q baseband signals. The impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit down-converts the RF output signal to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, measures at least one signal impairment in the IF signal, and pre-distorts the I and Q baseband signals to compensate for the measured signal impairment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/274,581, filed on Nov. 15, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/145,930, filed on May 15, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,987,954), which claims priority from and is related to the following prior application: Feedback Compensation Detector For A Direct Conversion Transmitter And Method Of Operating Same, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/291,239, filed May 15, 2001. These prior applications, including the entirety of the written descriptions and drawing figures, are hereby incorporated into the present application by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to the field of radio frequency (RF) signal transmission. More specifically, a feedback compensation detector for a direct conversion transmitter is provided that is particularly well-suited for use in a Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) transmitter, but may also provide utility in any transmitter that uses sufficiently independent modulation on the two quadrature axes (I and Q), such as a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) transmitter, a Wideband Direct Sequence CDMA (WCDMA) transmitter, or a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) transmitter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Direct conversion transmitters are known. In a typical direct conversion transmitter chain, baseband in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) digital signals are converted to analog signals, filtered, amplified and modulated to form an analog baseband signal. The analog baseband signal is then converted to a radio frequency (RF) signal at a carrier frequency, amplified, filtered, and transmitted via an antenna. Such transmitter chains, however, typically propagate signal impairments which are often resultant from channel delays, imbalances, and other signal distortions occurring within the transmitter chain.

SUMMARY

A feedback compensation detector for a direct conversion transmitter includes a baseband processor, a direct up-converter, an antenna, and an impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit. The baseband processor generates an in-phase (I) baseband signal and a quadrature-phase (Q) baseband signal. The direct up-converter is coupled to the baseband processor, and combines the I and Q baseband signals with an RF carrier signal to generate an RF output signal. The antenna is coupled to the direct up-converter, and transmits the RF output signal. The impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit is coupled to the RF output signal and the I and Q baseband signals. The impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit down-converts the RF output signal to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, measures as least one signal impairment in the IF signal, and pre-distorts the I and Q baseband signals to compensate for the measured signal impairment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a direct up-conversion transmitter chain with an impairment compensation feedback path;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of the direct up-converter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the direct up-conversion transmitter chain shown in FIG. 1 with a more detailed illustration of the impairment detector;

FIG. 4 is a more detailed block diagram of the impairment compensator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a timing estimator circuit for estimating the in-phase (I) component delay, T_(ie), shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a direct up-conversion transmitter chain having an automatic gain control (AGC) correction loop in the impairment compensation feedback path;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a direct up-conversion transmitter chain having a local oscillator (LO) leakage nulling loop in the impairment compensation feedback path;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a direct up-conversion transmitter chain having a quadrature imbalance compensation loop in the impairment compensation feedback path;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a direct up-conversion transmitter chain having a differential timing error compensation loop in the impairment compensation feedback path;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an exemplary temperature and supply voltage compensation circuit for the impairment detector shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6-9;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a method for iteratively estimating the values of the ambient temperature T and battery supply voltage V_(d) shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for operating the feedback compensation detector described above with reference to FIGS. 1-9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Impairment Compensation Feedback Path

Referring now to the drawing figures, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a direct up-conversion transmitter chain 100 with an impairment compensation feedback path. The transmitter chain 100 includes a baseband processor 110, an impairment compensator 112, a direct up-converter 114, and an impairment detector 116. The baseband processor 110 may, for example, be a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), or some other type of processing device or logic circuitry. The transmitter chain also includes a pair of digital-to-analog converters DACs 118, a frequency synthesizer 120, a band pass filter 122, and an antenna 124. Operationally, the impairment detector 116 measures signal impairments in the direct up-converter output 121, and generates a feedback signal 126 that is coupled to the impairment compensator 112. Exemplary signal impairments which may be detected by the impairment detector 116 are described below with reference to FIG. 3.

The baseband processor 110 generates in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) digital baseband signals for RF transmission. The I and Q baseband signals are modified prior to analog conversion by the impairment compensator 112, as described below. The modified baseband signals are then converted into the analog domain by the DACs 118 and are coupled to the direct up-converter 114 which combines the analog baseband signals with an RF carrier signal 119 from the frequency synthesizer 120. An exemplary direct up-converter 114 is described below with reference to FIG. 2. The RF output signal 121 from the direct up-converter 114 is filtered by the band pass filter 122, and is transmitted by the antenna 124. In addition, the RF output signal 121 is coupled to the impairment detector 116 which measures signal impairments, as described below, and generates the feedback signal 126 that is coupled to the impairment compensator 112. The feedback signal 126 is used by the impairment compensator 112 to pre-distort the I and Q baseband signals such that the pre-distortion cancels any actual distortion caused by impairments in the direct up-converter 114.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram 200 of the direct up-converter 114 shown in FIG. 1. The direct up-converter 114 includes a pair of low pass filters 202, a pair of amplifiers 204, a quadrature up-converter 206, an automatic gain control (AGC) amplifier 208, a band pass filter 210, and a power amplifier (PA) 212.

The analog I and Q baseband signals from the DACs 118 are received as inputs to the direct up-converter 114. The I and Q inputs are then filtered by the pair of low pass filters 202, amplified by the pair of amplifiers 204, and coupled as inputs to the quadrature up-converter 206. The quadrature up-converter 206 also receives a carrier signal (F1) from the frequency synthesizer 120, and combines the analog baseband signals with the carrier signal (F1) to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal having a carrier frequency of F1. The RF signal is amplified by the AGC amplifier 208 in order to provide the necessary gain to drive the power amplifier (PA) 212. The PA 212 further amplifies the RF signal to generate the RF output signal 121.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram 300 of the direct up-conversion transmitter chain 100 shown in FIG. 1 with a more detailed illustration of the impairment detector 116. The impairment detector 116 includes a variable attenuator 302, a down-conversion mixer 304, a band pass filter 306, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 308, and a impairment detector processor 310. The impairment detector processor 310 may, for example, be a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), or some other type of processing device or logic circuitry. In one embodiment, the processing functions of the impairment detector processor 310 and the baseband processor 110 described above may be performed by the same processing device.

The RF output signal 121 from the direct up-converter 114 is sampled by the variable attenuator 302 which reduces the gain of the signal 121 to an appropriate power range for the down-conversion mixer 304. The output from the variable attenuator 302 is coupled to the down-conversion mixer 304 along with a local oscillator (LO) signal 303 generated by the frequency synthesizer 120, which has a different frequency (F₂) than the frequency (F₁) of the RF carrier signal 119. The intermediate frequency (IF) output of the down-conversion mixer 304 thus has a center frequency that is substantially equal to the difference between the frequencies of the LO signal 303 and the RF carrier signal 119 (F₁−F₂).

The band pass filter 306 is centered at the intermediate frequency (F₁−F₂), and filters the IF output to a pre-determined passband to generate an analog impairment signal z(t), where z is a time domain function and t is time. The analog impairment signal z(t) is sampled by the A/D converter 308, and the resulting digital signal is coupled to the impairment detector processor 310 and may also be stored in a memory device, such as a buffer memory, via the processor 310.

The impairment detector processor 310 is configured to estimate one or more impairments present in the RF signal 121. For instance, the impairment detector processor 310 may be configured to estimate the overall gain of the up-converter chain 100, a leakage component from the LO signal 303, a phase or amplitude imbalance in the quadrature up-converter 206, a differential delay between the I and Q baseband channels, or some other signal impairment. The feedback signal 126 from the impairment detector 116 is generated by the impairment detector processor 310 based on the impairments detected in the RF signal 121 and is applied to the I and Q baseband signals in the impairment compensator 112. In addition, the impairment detector processor 310 generates an attenuation control signal 312 that is fed back to control the negative gain applied by the variable attenuator 302. The relationship between the operations of the impairment detector 116 and the impairment compensator 112, including the estimation of signal impairments by the impairment detector processor 310, is described below with reference to FIGS. 5-9.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed block diagram 400 of the impairment compensator 112 shown in FIG. 1. The impairment compensator 112 includes in-phase and quadrature-phase delay compensation blocks 402, 404, in-phase and quadrature-phase bias compensation adders 406, 408, a linear compensation block 410, and in-phase and quadrature-phase gain multipliers 412, 414. Also illustrated are the in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) digital baseband signals from the baseband processor 110, denoted in the time domain as g_(i)(t) and g_(q)(t) respectively.

The in-phase and quadrature-phase baseband signals g_(i)(t) and g_(q)(t) are advanced by estimated I and Q component delay values, T_(ie) and T_(qe), in the delay compensation blocks 402, 404. The estimated I and Q component delay values T_(ie) and T_(qe) compensate for I and Q component delays from the transmitter chain 100, and are received as inputs from the impairment detector 116. An exemplary method for estimating the I and Q component delay values, T_(ie) and T_(qe), is described below with reference to FIG. 5.

The in-phase and quadrature-phase outputs from the delay compensation blocks 402, 404 are coupled as positive inputs to the in-phase and quadrature-phase bias compensation adders 406, 408. In addition, estimated in-phase and quadrature-phase bias offset values, b_(ie) and b_(qe), derived by the impairment detector 116, are coupled as negative inputs to the in-phase and quadrature-phase bias compensation adders 406, 408. The bias offset values, b_(ie) and b_(qe), compensate for direct-current (DC) bias caused, for example, by leakage of the LO signal 303 in the RF output signal 121 (see FIG. 3). An exemplary method for estimating the bias offset values, b_(ie) and b_(qe), is described below.

The in-phase and quadrature-phase outputs from the bias compensation adders 406, 408 are coupled as inputs to the linear compensation block 410 along with estimated phase and amplitude imbalance parameters, e_(e) and f_(e), calculated by the impairment detector 116. Using the estimated phase and amplitude imbalance parameters, e_(e) and f_(e), the linear compensation block 410 applies an inverse model of the phase and amplitude imbalance in the quadrature up-converter 206, and outputs balanced in-phase and quadrature-phase signal components. An exemplary method for estimating the phase and amplitude imbalance parameters, e_(e) and f_(e), is described below.

The balanced outputs from the linear compensation block 410 are coupled as inputs to the in-phase and quadrature-phase gain multipliers 412, 414. Also coupled as inputs to the gain multipliers 412, 414 is a scaling factor, G_(des)/G_(oe), which adjusts the in-phase and quadrature-phase signals to compensate for gain imbalances. The numerator of the scaling factor, G_(des), represents the desired gain for the transmitter chain 100, and the denominator, G_(oe), is the estimated actual gain. The desired gain G_(des) is pre-selected according to the desired characteristics of the transmitter chain 100. The estimated actual gain G_(oe) may be calculated by the impairment detector 116, as described below. The in-phase and quadrature-phase outputs from the gain multipliers 412, 414 are coupled to the DACs 118, as described above with reference to FIG. 1.

In one alternative embodiment, the impairment detector 112 may be implemented as a software application executing on the baseband processor 110 or on some other processing device.

Estimating I and Q Component Delays (T_(ie) and T_(qe))

FIG. 5 is a block diagram 500 of a timing estimator circuit for estimating the I component delay, T_(ie), shown in FIG. 4. The timing estimator circuit 500 may, for example, be implemented by the impairment detector processor 310, and includes a first mixer 502, a second mixer 504, and an integrator 506.

The analog impairment signal z(t), described above with reference to FIG. 3, is coupled as an input to the first mixer 502 along with a delayed in-phase baseband signal g_(i)(t−T_(ie)) 508. The delayed in-phase baseband signal g_(i)(t−T_(ie)) 508 is delayed by an estimated value for the I component delay T_(ie). The output from the first mixer 504 is then coupled as an input to the second mixer 504 along with a sampling phase adjustment parameter 510. The sampling phase adjustment parameter 510 may be calculated as: cos(2π(F₁−F₂)t+p); where (F₁−F₂) is the frequency of the IF output from the down-conversion mixer 304 shown in FIG. 3, and p is a phase parameter. The output from the second mixer 504 is fed into the integrator 506, which integrates the signal over a sampling epoch (M/(F₁−F₂)) to produce an output signal (Y) 512, where M is an integer parameter corresponding to the number of integration cycles.

Operationally, the estimated I component delay, T_(ie), is calculated by varying the values of T_(ie) and p until a maximum value is obtained for the timing estimator output (Y) 512. The maximum value for Y may be approximated, for example, by calculating Y 512 over a pre-determined range of the variables T_(ie) and p. The value of T_(ie) that results in the maximum timing estimator output (Y) 512 is an estimate of the total in-phase component delay.

The estimated Q component delay, T_(iq), may be calculated using a timing estimator circuit similar to the circuit 500 shown in FIG. 5 in which the delayed in-phase baseband signal (g_(i)(t−T_(ie))) is replaced with a delayed quadrature-phase baseband signal (g_(q)(t−T_(iq))).

Estimating Phase, Amplitude, and Gain Imbalance (e_(e), f_(e), and G_(oe))

Referring again to FIG. 4, the linear compensation block 410 uses the phase and amplitude parameters e_(e) and f_(e) to compensate for phase and amplitude imbalance in the quadrature up-converter 206, and the in-phase and quadrature-phase gain multipliers 412, 414 use the scaling factor G_(des)/G_(oe) to balance the gain. The phase and amplitude parameters e_(e) and f_(e) and the overall gain G_(oe) may be estimated from the analog impairment signal z(t) described above with reference to FIG. 3. The subscript “e” or “est” as used within this application denotes that the value for the given parameter is an estimated value.

The analog impairment signal z(t) may be expressed by the following equation: z(t)=(C(t)a+S(t)c)*g _(ieq)(t−T _(i))+(C(t)b+S(t)d)*g _(qeq)(t−T _(q)); where:

-   -   g_(ieq)(t)=g_(i)(t−T_(i))+b_(i);     -   g_(qeq)(t)=g_(q)(t−T_(q))+b_(q);     -   C(t)=cos(2π(F₁−F₂)t);     -   S(t)=sin(2π(F1−F2) t); and

$\begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix} = {{{G_{o}\begin{bmatrix} {\cos\left( \phi_{o} \right)} & {\sin\left( \phi_{o} \right)} \\ {- {\sin\left( \phi_{o} \right)}} & {\cos\left( \phi_{o} \right)} \end{bmatrix}}\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ e & f \end{bmatrix}}.}$

The matrix coefficients {a, b, c, d} represent the model of the impaired quadrature up-converter with a random start phase φ_(o), and may be estimated by sampling z(t). In addition, since the I and Q time delays, T_(i) and T_(q), are independent of other impairments, they may be assumed to be equal to zero (0) for the purposes of estimating the phase, amplitude, and gain imbalance parameters, e_(e), f_(e), and G_(oe).

Assume that z(t) is sampled such that z(n) is the sample of z(t) at t=nT_(s), where the value of n ranges from 0 to (N−1) and N=M(T_(s)(F₁−F₂))⁻¹, and where M is an integer parameter corresponding to the number of integration cycles. Also assume that g_(i)(t) and g_(q)(t) are independent random processes with zero mean. Then, the matrix coefficients {a, b, c, d} may be estimated as follows:

$\begin{matrix} {{a_{e} = \frac{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{{z(n)}{C(n)}{g_{i}(n)}}}{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{\left( {C(n)} \right)^{2}\left( {g_{i}(n)} \right)^{2}}}};} & {{b_{e} = \frac{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{{z(n)}{C(n)}{g_{q}(n)}}}{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{\left( {C(n)} \right)^{2}\left( {g_{q}(n)} \right)^{2}}}};} \end{matrix}$ ${c_{e} = \frac{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{{z(n)}{S(n)}{g_{i}(n)}}}{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{\left( {S(n)} \right)^{2}\left( {g_{i}(n)} \right)^{2}}}};{{{and}\mspace{14mu} d_{e}} = {\frac{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{{z(n)}{S(n)}{g_{q}(n)}}}{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{\left( {S(n)} \right)^{2}\left( {g_{q}(n)} \right)^{2}}}.}}$

The estimated matrix coefficients {a_(e), b_(e), c_(e), d_(e)} may then be used to estimate the phase, amplitude, and gain imbalance parameters, e_(e), f_(e), and G_(oe), as follows:

${e_{e} = \frac{{d_{e}c_{e}} + {b_{e}a_{e}}}{{a_{e}d_{e}} - {c_{e}b_{e}}}};$ ${f_{e} = \frac{d_{e}^{2} + b_{e}^{2}}{{a_{e}d_{e}} - {c_{e}b_{e}}}};$ and $G_{oe} = {\frac{{a_{e}d_{e}} - {c_{e}b_{e}}}{\sqrt{b_{e}^{2} + d_{e}^{2}}}.}$ Estimating Bias Offset (b_(ie) and b_(qe))

With reference to FIG. 4, the in-phase and quadrature-phase delay compensation blocks 402, 404 offset the I and Q baseband signals by in-phase and quadrature-phase bias parameters b_(ie) and b_(qe). The bias parameters, b_(ie) and b_(qe), may be estimated from the analog impairment signal z(t) independently of the other impairment parameters e_(e), f_(e), and G_(oe). The analog impairment signal z(t) 126 may thus be expressed as:

${z(t)} = \left\lbrack {{{\begin{matrix} {\cos\left( {\phi(t)} \right.} & {\left. {\sin\left( {\phi(t)} \right)} \right\rbrack{G_{o}\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ e & f \end{bmatrix}}} \end{matrix}\begin{bmatrix} b_{i} \\ b_{q} \end{bmatrix}} = {{\begin{bmatrix} C & S \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix}}\begin{bmatrix} b_{i} \\ b_{q} \end{bmatrix}}};} \right.$ such that: z(t)=(Ca+Sc)b _(i)+(Cb+Sd)b _(q).

The term (Ca+Sc) may be regarded as a vector in the two-dimensional Hilbert space of C(t) and S(t), and an orthogonal vector to (Ca+Sc) is (Cc−Sa). Consequently <(Ca+Sc)(Cc−Sa)>=0, which allows the parameters b_(i) and b_(q) to be extracted from the equation. Thus estimates of b_(i) and b_(q), denoted as b_(ie) and b_(qe), may be derived as:

$\begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} {b_{ic} = \frac{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{{z(n)}\left( {{{C(n)}c_{e}} - {{S(n)}a_{e}}} \right)}}{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{\left( {{{C(n)}c_{e}} - {{S(n)}a_{e}}} \right)\left( {{{C(n)}b_{e}} + {{S(n)}d_{e}}} \right)}}} \\ {{= \frac{2{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{{z(n)}\left( {{{C(n)}c_{e}} - {{S(n)}a_{e}}} \right)}}}{{a_{e}d_{e}} - {b_{e}c_{e}}}};} \end{matrix} & \; \\ {and} & \; \\ {b_{qe} = {\frac{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N - 1}{{z(n)}\left( {{{C(n)}d_{e}} - {{S(n)}b_{e}}} \right)}}{{a_{e}d_{e}} - {b_{e}c_{e}}}.}} & \; \end{matrix}$ Automatic Gain Control Correction Loop

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a direct up-conversion transmitter chain 600 having an automatic gain control (AGC) correction loop in the impairment compensation feedback path. This transmitter chain 600 is similar to the transmitter chain 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5, except the feedback path includes a comparator 602, a mixer 604, and a gain correction loop 606. In operation, the AGC loop compensates for errors in the AGC amplifier 208 described above with reference to FIG. 2.

The comparator 602 has a positive input coupled to the estimated gain G_(oe) from the impairment detector 116 and a negative input coupled to the pre-selected desired gain G_(des). The comparator 602 subtracts the desired gain G_(des) from the estimated gain G_(oe) to generate a comparator output that is coupled as an input to the mixer 604. The mixer 604 applies a pre-selected gain coefficient K_(G) to the comparator output, and generates a mixer output that is coupled as an input to the gain correction loop 606. The gain correction loop 606 may, for example, be a first order correction loop that generates a gain-compensated output G_(comp) that may be expressed by the equation: G_(comp)=G_(comp)−K_(G)(G_(oe)−G_(des)). Accordingly, the speed at which the AGC correction loop 606 will track AGC errors may be increased by increasing the value of the gain coefficient K_(G).

The gain-compensated output, G_(comp), from the AGC correction loop 606 is coupled as the inputs to the gain multipliers 412, 414 in the impairment compensator 112, as described above with reference to FIG. 4. It should be understood, that although the impairment compensator 112 illustrated in FIG. 6 has been simplified to show only the gain multipliers 412, 414, the impairment compensator 112 may include the additional elements described above with reference to FIG. 4.

Local Oscillator Leakage Nulling Loop

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a direct up-conversion transmitter chain 700 having a local oscillator (LO) leakage nulling loop 702 in the impairment compensation feedback path. This transmitter chain 700 is similar to the transmitter chain 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5, except for the inclusion of the LO leakage nulling loop 702 in the feedback path. In operation, the LO leakage nulling loop 702 corrects for corruption of the RF signal 121 caused by the LO signal 303.

The LO signal 303 may be suppressed in the RF signal 121 by nulling the DC bias parameters b_(ie) and b_(qe). The LO leakage nulling loop 702 accomplishes this by implementing a first order correction loop that applies a pre-selected bias coefficient K_(b), and generates compensated in-phase and quadrature-phase bias offset parameters, b_(icomp) and b_(qcomp), according to the equations: b _(icomp) =b _(icomp) −K _(b) b _(ie); and b _(qcomp) =b _(qcomp) −K _(b) b _(qe).

The compensated in-phase and quadrature-phase bias offset parameters, b_(icomp) and b_(qcomp), are coupled as inputs to the in-phase and quadrature-phase bias compensation adders 406, 408, as described above with reference to FIG. 4. It should be understood, that although the impairment compensator 112 illustrated in FIG. 7 has been simplified to show only the bias compensation adders 406, 408, the impairment compensator 112 may include the additional elements described above with reference to FIG. 4.

Quadrature Imbalance Compensation Tracking Loop

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a direct up-conversion transmitter chain 800 having a quadrature imbalance compensation loop 802 in the impairment compensation feedback path. This transmitter chain 800 is similar to the transmitter chain 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5, except for the inclusion of the quadrature imbalance compensation loop 802 in the feedback path. In operation, the quadrature imbalance compensation loop 802 further compensates for phase and amplitude imbalance in the quadrature up-converter 206.

The phase and gain imbalance of the quadrature up-converter 206 is represented by the phase and amplitude parameters “e” and “f” as described above. In order to compensate for phase and amplitude imbalance, the I and Q components of the baseband signal are multiplied by:

${\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ e & f \end{bmatrix}^{- 1} = {\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ {- \frac{e}{f}} & \frac{1}{f} \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ e_{comp} & f_{comp} \end{bmatrix}}},$ where e_(comp) and f_(comp) are the desired compensation variables tracked by the quadrature imbalance compensation loop 802. If values of the phase and amplitude parameters, e and f, where known, then the desired compensation variables could be calculated according to the equations:

${e_{comp} = {- \frac{e}{f}}};$ and $f_{comp} = {\frac{1}{f}.}$

Since the impairment detector 116 only calculates estimated phase and amplitude parameters, e_(e) and f_(e), however, the quadrature imbalance compensation loop 802 applies a pre-selected quadrature balancing coefficient K_(Q) to calculate the desired compensation variables, e_(comp) and f_(comp). The quadrature imbalance compensation loop 802 may, for example, be a first order loop correction loop that generates the desired compensation variables, e_(comp) and f_(comp), according to the following equations:

${e_{comp} = {e_{comp} - {K_{Q}\frac{e_{e}}{f_{e}}}}};$ and $f_{comp} = {f_{comp} + {{K_{Q}\left( {\frac{1}{f_{e}} - 1} \right)}.}}$

The desired compensation variables, e_(comp) and f_(comp), are coupled as inputs to the linear compensation block 410 of the impairment compensator 112, as described above with reference to FIG. 4. It should be understood, that although the impairment compensator 112 illustrated in FIG. 8 has been simplified to show only the linear compensation block 410, the impairment compensator 112 may include the additional elements described above with reference to FIG. 4.

Differential Timing Error Compensation Loop

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a direct up-conversion transmitter chain 900 having a differential timing error compensation loop 902 in the impairment compensation feedback path. This transmitter chain 900 is similar to the transmitter chain 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5, except for the inclusion of the differential timing error compensation loop 902 in the feedback path. In operation, the differential timing error compensation loop 902 adjusts the I and Q component delays, T_(ie) and T_(qe), to compensate for dynamic changes in the up-converter channel delays.

The differential timing error compensation loop 902 receives the in-phase and quadrature-phase component delays, T_(ie) and T_(qe), estimated by the impairment detector 116 as described above, and applies a pre-selected timing adjustment coefficient K_(T) to generate compensated in-phase and quadrature-phase component delays, T_(qc) and T_(ic). The differential timing error compensation loop 902 may, for example, be implemented as a first order correction loop that generates the compensated component delays, T_(qc) and T_(ic), according to the following equations: T_(ic)−T_(ic)+K_(T)(T_(ie)−T_(o)); and T _(qc) =T _(qc) +K _(T)(T _(ie) −T _(o)), where T_(o) is a target common delay of the in-phase and quadrature-phase channels that is pre-selected such that the delay implemented by the impairment compensator 112 is always positive.

The compensated component delays, T_(qc) and T_(ic), are coupled as inputs to the in-phase and quadrature-phase delay compensation blocks 402, 404 in the impairment compensator 112, as described above with reference to FIG. 4. It should be understood, that although the impairment compensator 112 illustrated in FIG. 9 has been simplified to show only the delay compensation blocks 402, 404, the impairment compensator 112 may include the additional elements described above with reference to FIG. 4.

Detector Temperature and Supply Voltage Compensation

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an exemplary temperature and supply voltage compensation circuit 1000 for the impairment detector 116 shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6-9. Portions of the impairment detector 116 described above may be sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and supply voltage. These temperature and supply voltage sensitive components may, for example, include the variable attenuator 302, the down-conversion mixer 304 and the A/D converter 308 described above with reference to FIG. 3. These and any other temperature and/or voltage sensitive components are represented in FIG. 10 by the RF and IF component block 1010. In addition, the temperature and supply voltage compensation circuit 1000 also includes a band gap voltage reference 1020, a temperature sensor 1030, a multiplexer 1040, a first analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 1050, a processor 310, and a second analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 1070. The temperature sensor 1030 may, for example, be a device that is sensitive to temperature and has a repeatable response and negligible hysteresis, such as a diode detector. The processor 310 may, for example, be the impairment detector processor 310 described above with reference to FIG. 3.

The band gap voltage reference 1020 generates a reference voltage V_(ref). Since the band gap voltage reference 1020 is not ideal, however, the reference voltage is a function of the ambient temperature T and the battery supply voltage V_(d).

The temperature sensor 1030 generates a temperature sensor voltage, V_(temp), which is proportional to the ambient temperature T. Since the temperature sensor 1030 is not ideal, however, its output, V_(temp), is also a function of the battery supply voltage V_(d).

The multiplexer 1040 is coupled to the reference voltage V_(ref), the temperature sensor voltage V_(temp), and the battery supply voltage V_(d). In addition, the multiplexer 1040 also receives a control input 1045 from the processor 310 which selects either V_(temp) or V_(d) as a selected input to the multiplexer 1040. The multiplexer 1040 then divides the selected input, V_(temp) or V_(d), by the reference voltage V_(ref) to generate an analog ratio output R_(temp) or R_(vd), as follows: R _(temp) =V _(temp) /V _(ref); and R _(vd) =V _(d) /V _(ref).

The selected analog ratio output, R_(temp) or R_(vd), is sampled by the first A/D converter 1050 and coupled as an input to the processor 310. The processor 310 may, for example, alternate between selecting V_(temp) and V_(d) as the selected input to the multiplexer 1040 in order to generate alternating sampled R_(temp) and R_(vd) inputs to the processor 310. In addition, the analog intermediate frequency (IF) signal generated by the temperature and supply voltage sensitive components 1010 in the impairment detector is sampled by the second A/D converter 1070 and coupled as an additional input to the processor 310. In operation, the processor 310 uses the sampled ratios, R_(temp) and R_(vd), to estimate the actual ambient temperature T and supply voltage V_(d) (the estimated values of T and V_(d) are designated herein as T_(est) and V_(dest) respectively). A method for estimating the values of T and V_(d) is described below with reference to FIG. 11.

The estimated temperature and supply voltage values, T_(est) and V_(dest), are used to estimate the overall gain G(T_(est), V_(dest)) of the analog portion of the impairment detector 116, which is a function of both the ambient temperature T and the supply voltage V_(d). By comparing the estimated overall gain G(T_(est), V_(dest)) to the pre-selected desired gain of the impairment detector 116, the processor 310 compensates for temperature- and supply voltage-related impairments in the analog IF signal by correcting one or more of the parameters in the feedback signal 126 described above. For instance, temperature- and supply voltage-related corrections in the analog IF signal may be implemented by adjusting the estimated gain G_(oe), described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, by a factor of G(T_(est), V_(dest)).

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram that illustrates a method 1100 for iteratively estimating the values of the ambient temperature T and battery supply voltage V_(d) shown in FIG. 10. The method 1100 may, for example, be performed by the processor 310 described above with reference to FIG. 10.

The method 1100 begins in step 1110. In step 1120, the voltage value of the reference voltage output V_(ref) from the band gap voltage reference 1020 is estimated. The reference voltage V_(ref) may be calculated, for example, using the estimated values for the ambient temperature T_(est) and the supply voltage V_(dest), according to the following equation: V _(ref) =C ₁ +C ₂ T _(est) +C ₃ V _(dest); where C₁, C₂ and C₃ are constants that may be derived as part of a calibration process. The initial values of T_(est) and V_(dest) may be pre-selected or otherwise initialized, and therefore should be in error. In successive iterations of the method 1100, however, the values of T_(est) and V_(dest) should converge on their respective actual values, and thus the estimated value of V_(ref) should also converge on its actual value.

In step 1130, the estimated value of the battery supply voltage, V_(dest), is calculated. The value of V_(dest) may, for example, be calculated according to the equation: V_(dest)=R_(vd)V_(ref); where R_(vd) is a sampled ratio output from the first multiplexer 1040 described above, and V_(ref) is the voltage reference output from the band gap voltage reference 1020. Similarly, in step 1140, the value of the temperature sensor voltage, V_(temp), as described above, is estimated according to the equation: V_(test)=R_(temp)V_(ref) where R_(temp) is a sampled ratio output from the first multiplexer 1040. Then, in step 1150, the ambient temperature T is estimated according to the equation: T _(est)=(V _(test) −C ₄ −C ₆ V _(dest))/C ₅; where C₄, C₅ and C₆ are constants that may be derived as part of a calibration process.

In step 1160, the estimated values, V_(dest) and T_(est), for the ambient temperature T and supply voltage V_(d) are examined to determine if the values have sufficiently converged with their respective actual values. This step 1160 may be performed, for example, by saving the values of V_(dest) and T_(est) to a memory device at each iteration of the method 1100, and comparing the current values with stored values. The estimated values, V_(dest) and T_(est), may be deemed to have sufficiently converged when the difference between values calculated at successive iterations reaches a pre-selected value. If it is determined in step 1160 that either of the estimated values, V_(dest) or T_(est), has not sufficiently converged with its actual value, then the method repeats at step 1120. Otherwise, the method 1100 ends at step 1170.

Method of Operating a Feedback Compensation Detector

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method 1200 for operating the feedback compensation detector described above with reference to FIGS. 1-9. The method begins in step 1210. In step 1220, the in-phase and quadrature-phase component delays T_(i) and T_(q) are estimated, as described above with reference to FIG. 5. In steps 1230-1250, the matrix coefficients {a, b, c, d}, the phase, amplitude and gain imbalances (e_(e), f_(e), and G_(oe)), and the bias offset values (b_(ie) and b_(qe)) are estimated, as described above with reference to FIG. 4. Then, in step 1260, the I and Q baseband signals are compensated using one or more of the estimated impairment parameters, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4-9. If control loops, such as those described above with reference to FIGS. 6-9, are utilized in the I and Q baseband signal compensation step 1260, then the method 1280 may repeat at step 1270. Otherwise, the method 1200 ends at step 1280.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. 

1. A direct up conversion transmitter chain, comprising: means for generating an in-phase (I) baseband signal and a quadrature-phase (Q) baseband signal; means for combining the I and Q baseband signals with a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal to generate an RF output signal; means for transmitting the RF output signal; pre-distortion means for down-converting the RF output signal to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, measuring at least one signal impairment in the IF signal to generate at least one signal impairment parameter, and pre-distorting the I and Q baseband signals as a function of the at least one signal impairment parameter to compensate for the measured signal impairment; means for generating a temperature sensor voltage as a function of both ambient temperature in the vicinity of the pre-distortion means and a battery supply voltage; means for generating a reference voltage as a function of both the ambient temperature in the vicinity of the pre-distortion means and the battery supply voltage; and means for estimating an actual ambient temperature value as a function of both the temperature sensor voltage and the reference voltage; wherein the pre-distortion means adjusts the at least one signal impairment parameter by a function of the estimated actual ambient temperature value.
 2. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 1, wherein the I and Q baseband signals generated by the means for generating are digital signals, and further comprising: means for converting the digital I baseband signal into an analog I baseband signal; and means for converting the digital Q baseband signal into an analog baseband signal; wherein the analog I and Q baseband signals are combined with the RF carrier signal to generate the RF output signal.
 3. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 1, further comprising: means for generating the RF carrier signal output and generating a local oscillator (LO) signal, wherein the pre-distortion means uses the LO signal to convert the RF output signal to the IF signal.
 4. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 1, further comprising: means for filtering the RF output signal to a passband frequency range before transmission by the means for transmitting.
 5. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 1, wherein pre-distortion means includes impairment detection means for down-converting the RF output signal to generate the IF signal, estimating the signal impairment in the IF signal, and generating a feedback signal that is used by the pre-distortion means to pre-distort the I and Q baseband signals.
 6. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 5, wherein the impairment detection means comprises: down conversion means for combining the RF output signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal to generate the IF signal, wherein the frequency of the LO signal is different from the frequency of the RF carrier signal; and impairment processing means for estimating the signal impairment in the RF output signal using the IF signal and generating the feedback signal.
 7. The direct up-conversion transmitter chain of claim 6, wherein the impairment detection means further comprises: means for reducing the gain of the RF output signal.
 8. The direct up-conversion transmitter chain of claim 6, wherein the impairment detection means further comprises: means for filtering the IF signal to a passband frequency range to generate an analog impairment signal; and means for sampling the analog impairment signal to generate a digital impairment signal.
 9. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 1, wherein the pre-distortion means includes an impairment compensation means for receiving a feedback signal generated by the pre-distortion means and using at least one signal impairment parameter in the feedback signal to pre-distort the I and Q baseband signals.
 10. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 9, wherein the pre-distortion means estimates I and Q component delays in the RF output signal and generates I and Q delay compensation values in the feedback signal that are proportional to the estimated I and Q component delays, and wherein the impairment compensation means comprises: means for advancing the I baseband signal by the I delay compensation value; and means for advancing the Q baseband signal by the Q delay compensation value.
 11. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 9, wherein the pre-distortion means estimates direct-current (DC) bias in the RF output signal and generates I and Q bias offset values in the feedback signal that are proportional to the estimated DC bias, and wherein the impairment compensation means comprises: means for subtracting the bias offset value from the I baseband signal; and means for subtracting the bias offset value from the Q baseband signal.
 12. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 9, wherein pre-distortion means estimates phase and amplitude imbalance in the transmitter chain and generates a phase imbalance parameter and an amplitude imbalance parameter in the feedback signal, and wherein the impairment compensation means comprises: means for applying an inverse model of the estimated phase and amplitude imbalance to the I and Q baseband signals using the phase and amplitude imbalance parameters.
 13. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 9, wherein pre-distortion means estimates the overall gain of the transmitter chain and generates a scaling factor in the feedback signal that is a function of the estimated gain and a pre-selected desired gain of the transmitter chain, and wherein the impairment compensation means comprises: means for multiplying the I baseband signal by the scaling factor; and gain means for multiplying the Q baseband signal by the scaling factor.
 14. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 1, wherein the pre-distortion means estimates the overall gain of the transmitter chain and generates a gain estimate, and wherein the pre-distortion means includes: means for comparing the gain estimate with a pre-selected desired gain of the transmitter chain and generating a gain-compensated loop output that is a function of the difference between the gain estimate and the pre-selected desired gain; wherein the pre-distortion means pre-distorts the I and Q baseband signals by multiplying the I and Q baseband signal with the gain-compensated loop output.
 15. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 1, wherein the pre-distortion means estimates direct-current (DC) bias in the RF output signal and generates I and Q bias offset values that are proportional to the estimated DC bias, and wherein pre-distortion means includes: means for generating a compensated I bias parameter as a function of the I bias offset value and a compensated Q bias parameter as a function of the Q bias offset value; wherein pre-distortion means pre-distorts the I and Q baseband signals by subtracting the compensated I bias parameter from the I baseband signal and subtracting the Q bias parameter from the Q baseband signal.
 16. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 1, wherein pre-distortion means estimates phase and amplitude imbalance in the transmitter chain and generates a phase imbalance parameter and an amplitude imbalance parameter, and wherein the pre-distortion means includes: means for generating a desired phase compensation variable as a function of the phase and amplitude imbalance parameters and a desired amplitude compensation variable as a function of the amplitude imbalance parameter; wherein the pre-distortion means pre-distorts the I and Q baseband signals by using the desired phase and amplitude compensation parameters to apply an inverse model of the estimated phase and amplitude imbalance to the I and Q baseband signals.
 17. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 1, wherein the pre-distortion means estimates I and Q component delays in the RF output signal and generates I and Q delay compensation values that are proportional to the estimated I and Q component delays, and wherein the pre-distortion means includes: means for generating a compensated I component delay as a function of the I delay compensation value and a compensated Q component delay as a function of the Q delay compensation value; wherein the pre-distortion means pre-distorts the I and Q baseband signal by advancing the I baseband signal by the compensated I component delay and advancing the Q baseband signal by the compensated Q component delay.
 18. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 1, wherein the means for combining comprises: means for combining the I and Q baseband signals with the RF carrier signal to generate an RF quadrature up-converter output; and means coupled to the quadrature up-converter means for increasing the gain of the RF quadrature up-converter output to generate the RF output signal.
 19. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 18, wherein the means for combining further comprises: means for increasing the gain of the RF quadrature up-converter output and generating an AGC output signal.
 20. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 19, wherein the means for combining further comprises: means for filtering the AGC output signal prior to amplification by the amplification means.
 21. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 18, wherein the means for combining further comprises: first band pass filter means for filtering the I baseband signal and generating a first band pass filter output signal; second band pass filter means for filtering the Q baseband signal and generating a second band pass filter output signal; first amplifier means for increasing the gain of the first band pass filter output and generating a first amplifier output signal; and second amplifier means for increasing the gain of the second band pass filter output and generating a second amplifier output signal.
 22. A direct up conversion transmitter chain, comprising: means for generating an in-phase (I) baseband signal and a quadrature-phase (Q) baseband signal; pre-distortion means coupled to a feedback signal for pre-distorting the I and Q baseband signals as a function of at least one signal impairment parameter in the feedback signal and generating modified I and Q baseband signals; means for combining the modified I and Q baseband signals with a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal to generate an RF output signal; means for transmitting the RF output signal; impairment detection means for down-converting the RF output signal to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, estimating the at least one signal impairment parameter from the IF signal, and generating the feedback signal, including temperature and voltage sensitive components; means for generating a temperature sensor voltage as a function of both an ambient temperature in the vicinity of the impairment detection means and a battery supply voltage; means for generating a reference voltage as a function of both the ambient temperature in the vicinity of the impairment detection means and the battery supply voltage; means for estimating an actual ambient temperature value as a function of both the temperature sensor voltage and the reference voltage; means for estimating an actual battery supply voltage value as a function of both the battery supply voltage and the reference voltage; means for estimating the signal impairment parameter from the IF signal and adjusting the signal impairment parameter by a function of the estimated actual ambient temperature value and the actual battery supply voltage value.
 23. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 22, further comprising: means for generating a first ratio output as a function of the temperature sensor voltage and the reference voltage and a second ratio output as a function of the battery supply voltage and the reference voltage, wherein the first and second ratio outputs are coupled to the means for estimating and the means for estimating estimates the actual ambient temperature value as a function of the first ratio and estimates the actual battery supply voltage value as a function of the second ratio.
 24. A direct up conversion transmitter chain, comprising: a baseband processor that generates a baseband signal; a direct up-converter that combines the baseband signal with a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal to generate an RF output signal; an antenna that transmits the RF output signal; an impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit that down-converts the RF output signal to generate an intermediate frequency (LE) signal, measures at least one signal impairment in the IF signal to generate at least one signal impairment parameter, and pre-distorts the baseband signal as a function of the at least one signal impairment parameter to compensate for the measured signal impairment; a band gap voltage reference that generates a reference voltage as a function of both an ambient temperature in the vicinity of the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit and a battery supply voltage; and a temperature sensor that generates a temperature sensor voltage as a function of both the ambient temperature in the vicinity of the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit and the battery supply voltage; wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit estimates an actual ambient temperature value as a function of both the temperature sensor voltage and the reference voltage and adjusts the at least one signal impairment parameter as a function of the estimated actual ambient temperature value.
 25. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 24, wherein the baseband signal generated by the baseband processor is a digital signal, and further comprising: a digital-to-analog converter that converts the digital baseband signal into an analog baseband signal.
 26. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 25, further comprising: a frequency synthesizer having a first frequency output and a second frequency output, wherein the frequency synthesizer generates the RF carrier signal at the first frequency output and generates a local oscillator (LO) signal at the second frequency output, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit uses the LO signal to convert the RF output signal to the IF signal.
 27. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 24, further comprising: a band pass filter that filters the RF output signal to a passband frequency range before transmission by the antenna.
 28. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 24, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit includes an impairment detector that down-converts the RF output signal to generate the IF signal, estimates the signal impairment in the IF signal, and generates a feedback signal that is used by the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit to pre-distort the baseband signal.
 29. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 28, wherein the impairment detector comprises: a down-conversion mixer coupled to a local oscillator (LO) signal that combines the RF output signal with the local oscillator (LO) signal to generate the IF signal, wherein the frequency of the LO signal is different from the frequency of the RF carrier signal; and an impairment detector processor that estimates the signal impairment in the RF output signal using the IF signal and generates the feedback signal.
 30. The direct up-conversion transmitter chain of claim 29, wherein the impairment detector further comprises: a variable attenuator that reduces the gain of the RF output signal.
 31. The direct up-conversion transmitter chain of claim 29, wherein the impairment detector further comprises: a band pass filter that filters the IF signal to a passband frequency range to generate an analog impairment signal; and an analog-to-digital converter that samples the analog impairment signal to generate a digital impairment signal.
 32. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 24, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit includes an impairment compensator that receives a feedback signal generated by the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit and uses at least one signal impairment parameter in the feedback signal to pre-distort the baseband signal.
 33. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 32, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit estimates a component delay in the RF output signal and generates a delay compensation value in the feedback signal that is proportional to the estimated component delay, and wherein the impairment compensator comprises: a delay compensation block that advances the baseband signal by the delay compensation value.
 34. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 32, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit estimates direct-current (DC) bias in the RF output signal and generates a bias offset value in the feedback signal that is proportional to the estimated DC bias, and wherein the impairment compensator comprises: a bias compensation adder having a positive input that subtracts the bias offset value from the baseband signal.
 35. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 32, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit estimates phase and amplitude imbalance in the transmitter chain and generates a phase imbalance parameter and an amplitude imbalance parameter in the feedback signal, and wherein the impairment compensator comprises: a linear compensation block that uses the phase and amplitude imbalance parameters to apply an inverse model of the estimated phase and amplitude imbalance to the baseband signal.
 36. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 32, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit estimates the overall gain of the transmitter chain and generates a scaling factor in the feedback signal that is a function of the estimated gain and a pre-selected desired gain of the transmitter chain, and wherein the impairment compensator comprises: a gain multiplier that multiplies the baseband signal by the scaling factor.
 37. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 24, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit estimates the overall gain of the transmitter chain and generates a gain estimate, and wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit includes: an automatic gain control (AGC) correction loop that compares the gain estimate with a pre-selected desired gain of the transmitter chain and generates a gain-compensated loop output that is a function of the difference between the gain estimate and the pre-selected desired gain; wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit pre-distorts the baseband signal by multiplying the baseband signal with the gain-compensated loop output.
 38. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 24, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit estimates direct-current (DC) bias in the RF output signal and generates a bias offset value that is proportional to the estimated DC bias, and wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit includes: a local oscillator (LO) leakage nulling loop that generates a compensated bias parameter as a function of the bias offset value; wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit pre-distorts the baseband signal by subtracting the compensated bias parameter from the baseband signal.
 39. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 24, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit estimates phase and amplitude imbalance in the transmitter chain and generates a phase imbalance parameter and an amplitude imbalance parameter, and wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit includes: an imbalance compensation loop that generates a desired phase compensation variable as a function of the phase and amplitude imbalance parameters and a desired amplitude compensation variable as a function of the amplitude imbalance parameter; wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit pre-distorts the baseband signal by using the desired phase and amplitude compensation parameters to apply an inverse model of the estimated phase and amplitude imbalance to the baseband signal.
 40. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 24, wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit estimates a component delay in the RF output signal and generates a delay compensation value that is proportional to the estimated component delay, and wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit includes: a differential timing error compensation loop that generates a compensated component delay as a function of the delay compensation value; wherein the impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit pre-distorts the baseband signal by advancing the baseband signal by the compensated component delay.
 41. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 24, wherein the direct up-converter comprises: an up-converter that combines the baseband signal with the RF carrier signal to generate an RF up-converter output; and a power amplifier that increases the gain of the RF up-converter output to generate the RF output signal.
 42. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 41, wherein the direct up-converter further comprises: an automatic gain control (AGC) amplifier that increases the gain of the RF up-converter output and generates an AGC output signal.
 43. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 42, wherein the direct up-converter chain further comprises: a band pass filter that filters the AGC output signal prior to amplification by the power amplifier.
 44. The direct up conversion transmitter chain of claim 41, wherein the direct up-converter further comprises: a band pass filter that filters the baseband signal and generates a band pass filter output signal; an amplifier that increases the gain of the band pass filter output and generates an amplifier output signal. 